Hooked on tonics

For more than 3,000 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners have used tonics to create balance by counteracting deficiencies or blockages, and to help the body resist stressors to the immune system, organs, and mind. “Usually blended into formulas, tonic herbs can be taken long-term to help normalize body functions and aid longevity,” says Theresa Hui, Lac, an herbalist in San Mateo, California. But they can also be used short-term to treat specific issues. In such cases, take the tonic until your symptoms resolve. An herbalist can recommend formulas and doses.